Hybrid Stepladder and Method

Abstract

A hybrid stepladder having two platforms upon which a user can stand, and at least one step where a length of each platform is at least double a length of the step. A method for climbing.

1 . A hybrid a step ladder upon which a user climbs comprising:
 a front section having a first front rail and a second front rail in parallel and spaced relationship with the first front rail;   a rear section having a first rear rail and a second rear rail in parallel and spaced relationship with the first rear rail;   a first hinge and a second hinge which are pivotably connecting the first section and the rear section together so the front and rear sections can move between a closed position, where the first and second front rails of the front section are essentially in parallel with the first and second rear rails of the rear section, and an open position, where the front section and rear section form essentially an upside down V shape;   a first step attached to the first and second front rails, the first step defining a first step plane;   a first platform upon which the user can stand, the first platform defining a first platform plane; and   a second platform upon which the user can stand, the second platform defining a second platform plane the first and second platforms each supporting at least 250 pounds of load without failing, the first and second platforms having a width which is less than a width between the first and second front rails and the first and second rear rails, and each platform having a length that is at least double the step's length, the first and second platforms being essentially in parallel with each other and with ground when the front and rear sections are in the open position and essentially in parallel with the first and second front rails when the front and rear sections are in the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The stepladder of  claim 1  wherein the upper platform and the lower platform are rotatably connected to the front section at pivots. 
     
     
         3 . The stepladder of  claim 2  including upper platform links directly connecting the upper platform to the rear section and lower links directly connecting the lower platform to the rear section, the upper platform links and the lower links are sized and positioned so as to cause both platforms to move to a folded position when the rear section is moved to its closed position; a crossbar is directly attached to the rear section to provide a solid stop for the upper platform to rest on when the ladder is in the open state and ready for use; and hanging brace links are directly attached to the front section at the pivots and to the lower platform, the hanging brace links have slots at their lower ends where they directly connect to the lower platforms at studs which are part of the lower platform, the hanging brace links serve to support the lower platform when stood upon by a user. 
     
     
         4 . The stepladder of  claim 3  wherein the hanging brace links are rotatably attached to the lower platform between where the lower platform directly attaches to the front section and the lower links directly attach to the lower platform. 
     
     
         5 . The stepladder of  claim 4  wherein the slots in the hanging brace links allow the studs directly attached to the lower platform to rise with the lower platform. 
     
     
         6 . The stepladder of  claim 1  including links which cause the upper and lower platforms to rotate in opposite directions to a folded configuration, the upper platform directly connected to the rear section at a first pivot, and the lower platform is directly connected to the front section at a second pivot, and including fixed steps are rigidly attached to the front section. 
     
     
         7 . The stepladder of  claim 6  wherein the links include upper platform links which directly connect the upper platform to the front section, lower links directly connect the lower platform to the upper platform, the upper platform links and the lower links are sized and positioned so as to cause both platforms to move to a folded position when the rear section is moved to the closed position, and including a crossbar attached to the front section to provide a solid stop for the upper platform to rest on when the ladder is open and ready for use, the lower links serve to support the lower platform when stood upon by a user. 
     
     
         8 . The stepladder of  claim 1  wherein the upper platform and the lower platform are each directly connected to the front section at pivots, and including spreaders directly connect the front section to the rear section separate and apart from the upper platform and the lower platform and links which directly connect the upper platform to the lower platform in the rear section to the lower platform separate and apart from the spreaders so that the platforms are constrained to rotate simultaneously about their pivots on the front section, and a crossbar directly attached to the rear section to provide a solid stop for the upper platform to directly rest on when the ladder is ready for use, and in the ready for use position, the lower platform is supported by the links, with there being no direct connection between the upper and lower platforms. 
     
     
         9 . The stepladder of  claim 1  wherein the upper platform and the lower platform are directly connected to the front section at pivots, and including upper platform links directly connect the upper platform to the rear section, strong links directly connect the lower platform to the rear section, the upper platform links and the strong links are sized and positioned so as to cause both platforms to move to a folded position when the rear section is moved to its closed position, the strong links are directly connected to the lower platform by pivots and by hooks in the strong links directly engaging studs attached to the lower platform, and a crossbar directly attached to the rear section to provide a solid stop for the upper platform to rest on when the ladder is open and ready for use. 
     
     
         10 . The stepladder of  claim 9  wherein a user's weight on the upper platform supported by pivots through which the upper platform is directly connected to the front section and the crossbar, the user's weight on the lower platform is supported by the pivots to which the lower platform is directly connected to the front section and by the strong links, the strong links have strength in tension and also in vertical bending, the bending strength of the strong links, combined with the direct double attachment to the lower platform by the strong links to a pivot and a stud at a side of the lower platform provides support for the lower platform. 
     
     
         11 . The stepladder of  claim 1  wherein there are three distinct pivot points, which are at a leg section to a platform, and at a platform to a link, and at a link to a leg section, and the stepladder is in an over center condition when the stepladder is fully open, in which case the stepladder will have no tendency to move toward the closed position if an outside force were to be applied to the stepladder, the over center condition maintains the stepladder in the open position until the user deliberately pulls or closes the stepladder by lifting up the lower platform, in the over center condition, the three pivot points are positioned so that one of the three pivot points is between two of the pivot points and below a straight line which connects the two pivot points. 
     
     
         12 . The hybrid stepladder of  claim 1  including a top attached only to the front section at a position above and in spaced relationship with the rear section. 
     
     
         13 . A method of a user using the hybrid stepladder of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A method for a user climbing a hybrid stepladder comprising the steps of:
 the user standing on a first step of a front section of the step ladder;   the user raising a leg while standing on the first step and placing the leg on a first platform of the stepladder which is above the first step;   the user standing on the first platform;   the user moving from the first platform to a second platform of the stepladder which is above the first platform; and   the user standing on the second platform, the first and second platforms each supporting loads of at least 250 pounds without failing, each platform having a length that is at least double the step's length.   
     
     
         15 . A hybrid a step ladder upon which a user climbs comprising:
 a front section having a first front rail and a second front rail in parallel and spaced relationship with the first front rail;   a rear section having a first rear rail and a second rear rail in parallel and spaced relationship with the first rear rail;   a first hinge and a second hinge which are pivotably connecting the first section and the rear section together so the front and rear sections can move between a closed position, where the first and second front rails of the front section are essentially in parallel with the first and second rear rails of the rear section, and an open position, where the front section and rear section form essentially an upside down V shape;   a first step attached to the first and second front rails, the first step defining a first step plane;   a first platform upon which the user can stand, the first platform defining a first platform plane; and   a second platform upon which the user can stand, the second platform defining a second platform plane the first and second platforms each supporting at least 250 pounds of load without failing, the first and second platforms having a width which is less than a width between the first and second front rails and the first and second rear rails, and each platform having a length that is at least double the step's length, the first and second platforms being essentially in parallel with each other and with ground when the front and rear sections are in the open position and essentially in parallel with the first and second front rails when the front and rear sections are in the closed position, each platform having a surface with elongated dimples on a top of the surface of the platform that, provide increased friction and a better grip for a user standing on the platform to not slip or fall off the platform, the dimples form a crisscross pattern, with dimples directed in a first direction being slightly thicker than the dimples directed in a second direction and essentially perpendicular to the dimples in the first direction, the dimples in the second direction are slightly longer than the dimples in the first direction, each dimple extends between 1/16 of an inch and ⅛ of an inch upwards from the top of the surface of the platform, each platform having ribbing extending downward from a bottom of the surface which forms rectangular cells having four walls.